NICU nurse Stephanie Shine and Estrellita Karsh

The 2014 Mary Fay Enrichment Awards were recently announced at a ceremony of celebration and recognition.

Karen Reilly, MBA, RN, Kathleen Ryan Avery, MSN, RN, Elizabeth Eagan Bengston, MS, RN, and Martha Jurchak, PhD, RN, received funding to examine the impact of reflective practice on the professional practice environment in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. This is a timely and significant topic, and this study will contribute to the professional practice environment to increase the discipline’s knowledge around the impact of reflective practice.

Working to improve the care experience for patients and families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the second project funded will provide insight around the impact that maternal-child separation has on the mother’s ability to bond with her child and will contribute significantly to improving the quality of care for mothers and infants. Stephanie Shine, BSN, RN, Lindsay Craig, RNC-NIC, BSN, Katherine Gregory, PhD, RN,  Debra Marks, MS, CPNP, and Kristin Sanderson, BSN, RN, will be investigating new and creative ways to mitigate this problem.

The ceremony also included a presentation of findings from the 2013 recipients in their areas of study, which included: Infant Fall Risk Prevention by Claire Zaya, MSN, RN, Jeanne Feeley, BSN, RN, and Cynthia Loring, RNC, MS; Implementing an ICU Diary in the Cardiac Care Unit by Sharon A. Levine, BSN, RN, Paul Sedgwick, BSN, RN, CCRN, and Melanie Nedder, BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC; Minimizing Blood Loss Associated with Diagnostic Testing in the Cardiac Surgery ICU by Karen Morth, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, Cynthia Shattuck, BSN, RN, CCRN, Denise Atzet, BSN, RN, CCRN, and Nancy Zesch, RN; and Yoga for Gestational Weight Gain in Underserved Populations by Amy Goh, CNM, MSN, MPhil, RYT, Maisha Douyon, MPH, Ariel Childs, MPH, and Swapnil Maniar, PhD, MPH.

Established by Yousuf and Estrellita Karsh, the Mary S. Fay Enrichment Award recognizes the importance of compassionate nursing care in the recovery and well-being of patients by funding projects where clinical nurses have the opportunity to explore and implement innovative and evidence-based solutions to complex patient and clinical issues. The award, named after former BWH Chief Nurse Mary Fay, is made possible through the generous support of Mrs Estrellita Karsh, Marshall Wolf, MD, and the Department of Nursing.